Letter-box



A3 Sheets- Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

H.BBNHAM.

LETTER BOX.

No. 575,048. Patented Jan. 12, 1897.

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(No Model.) n 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

H` BENHAM.

LETTER Box.

No. 575,048. Patented Jan. 12, 1897.

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3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

H. BENHAM.

LETTER BOX.

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UNTTED STATES PATENT Genion.

HARVEY BENHAM, OF PLUMMER, INDIANA.

LETTER-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 575,048, dated January 12, 1897'. Application tiled June 19,1896. Serial No. 595,188. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Beitknown that I, HARVEY BENHAM, acitizen of the United States, residing at Plummer, in the county of Greene and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Letter-Box, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in letter-boxes.

The object of the present invention is to provide a letter-box which willrecord the time each letter is deposited in it and the time of each collection by a letter-carrier, and thereby provide a check on letter-carriers to prevent them from neglecting any letter-boxes, by enabling their negligence or omission to be readily ascertained at a glance.

A further object oi' the invention is to enable a letter-carrier to ascertain readily without opening a letter-box it any letters have been deposited therein, and thereby avoid any unnecessary opening of letter-boxes and consequent loss of time.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a letter-box constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a central vertical sectional view. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view on line 4 4 oi' Fig. 2. FiO. 5 is a horizontal sectional view on line 5 o ci Fig. 3. Fig. G is a detail view of the mechanism for indicating the time, whether A. M. or 1). M. Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view illustrating the construction of the opening of the letter-box and the sliding cover for the same. Fig. S is a detail perspective view of one` of the ribbon-actuating devices.

Like numerals of reference designate correspondingparts in all the ligures of the drawings.

l designates a casing, comprising a lower rectangular portion 2 and an upper portion 3. The lower portion 2 forms a receptacle for letters and is provided with a slot or opening 4 for the introduction of letters into it, and the upper portion forms a housing or receptacle for the registcrin g or recordin g mechanism, which indicates the time when letters are deposited into the lower portion, or the letterbox proper, and the time of each collection. The lower portion or letter-receptacle 2 is provided at the ends of the slot or entrance-opening 4 with suitable ways 5, in which is arranged a vertically-1n ovable sliding cover G, normally resting at the bottom of the ways 5 upon a cross-piece 7 and provided with a slot or opening 8, which is adapted to register with the slot or opening 4 when the sliding cover is raised.

The sliding cover is connected with an operating-lever l0 by a substantially L-shaped rod ll, arranged in a vertical keeper or guide l2, having one arm attached to the operatinglever and connected at the outer end of its other arm with the lower edge of the sliding cover 6, whereby, when the operating-lever is swung upward, it will carry with it the cover and cause the slot or opening S to register with the slot or opening 4. The slot or opening 4 is arranged at the front side of the letter-receptacle, and the latter is provided at one end with a door 13, hinged at its lower edge, adapted to swing downward and npward to aitord access to the interior of the letter-receptacle and enable a letter-carrier to remove the contents thereot,and it is designed to be secured, when closed, by any suitable locking device. This door is connected with registering mechanism hereinafter described for recording the time when it is opened to indicate when each collection is made.

The operating-lever is fulcrumed intermediate of its ends on the lower portion 0f the casing and extends through a slot thereof and has its inner end connected by a rod 14 with a vertically-movable horizontally-disposed reciprocatingbar l5,which is connected with and actuates the mechanism for recording the time each letter is deposited in the box or receptacle 2, whereby, when the operating-lever is swung upward to open the box or receptacle 2 to deposit a letter therein, the time when such letter is deposited will be simultaneously recorded. The rod 14, which is vertically disposed, is centrally arranged and passes through a perforation of the top of the box or receptable 2 and the bottom of IOO a supporting-frame 1 (3, which is mounted upon the box or receptacle i and arranged within the upper portion 23 of the casing.

The l1orizontally-disposed vertically-movable bar 15 is located at the front of the casing at a point above the bottom of the supporting-lrame 1G. lts ends are arranged in ver tical guides 1S, and it centrally connected with and adapted to operate a stampingframe 1l), disposed horizontally, mounted in suitable ways 2t) of the supporting-'franie and provided with plunger-rods 21. The stamping-frame lll, comprising a horizontally-disposed bar 11), and the plunger-rods 21, ex ten dinginward or rearward from the bar 19, guided in perforations of a bar 22 and provided at their rear ends with heads 23.

A verticallymovable wedge -t is interposed between the bar 10 el the stampingil rame and a horizontal bar il of the support ings'fraine, which is located in advance of the bar 1Q, and the wedge 21 is connected with the verticaliy-inovable bar 15 by a trod 25, whereby, when the vertically-rnovable bar is drawn downward by the operating-lever, the wedge will 'force the stainl'iing-fraine l0 rearward to carry stamps 2G, 27, and 28 rearward against a ribbon 9U and print the time on a movable sheet. The stamping-frame is returned to its initial position when the outer portion of the tn )erating-lever is lowered by spiral springs 3l, disposed on the plungerrods 21 and interposed between the bar 22 of the supporting-frame and the .rear face oi' the bar 19 of the stamping-frame.

The stamps 2G indicate the minutes and are carried by a minute-wheel 32. The stamps 27, which indicate the hours, are carried by an hour-wheel 325, and the stamps 28, which are two in number and which indicate 1L M. and 1). BL, are carried by an oscillating frame 3l, which is shifted every twelve hours to change the time from A. 3l. to l. M and vice versa.

The minute-wheel 32, which is mounted on a horizontal shaft 35, is provided with twelve spokes carrying the stamps 2li, which range from 5 to 55, the twelfth spoke being a blank. rlhe hour-wheel 33, which is constructed similar to the wheel 32 and which Vis mounted on a horizontal shalt 3G, is provided with twelve spokes and carries stamps ranging from 17 to 12, and these wheels are actuated by depending oscillating levers 37 and 13S, lulcru med at their upper' ends on suitable supports 25'.) ol the supporting-frame, arranged in suitable guides it() and carrying actuating-pawls i1 and -l-i, engaging, respectively, ratchetnvlreels El and il el the horizontalshaftsandllt. Theoseillatinglcvers are provided at their lower ends with weights and are adapted to be swung latemlly by means hereinafter described, and when thus actua-ted the weights carry them bach to their initial position and impart sul'lieient l'orce to them to enable theta to actuate the timewheels through the pawls and the ratchetwheels, and the ratchctwvheels are engaged by ehecli-pawls t5 and Lit to prevent retrograde rotation.

The mechanism :tor actuating the time wheels comprises a cloclc mechanism i7 and a vertically-disposed wheel 1S, which is provided with twelve spokes, eleven ol which are arranged to engage and act-nate the oscillating lever 57, while the twell'th spoke it" is ol'lset `from the vertical plane ol the other spokes and is adapted to engage a rod .tl, which connects the lower ends ol the oscillating levers. The rod il) is pivoted at one end to Athe oseili lating lever 3S and its other end extends through a perforation ol:` the lower end olf the lever 37 and is bent downward at 5l) to `l'orm a head, and when the head is engaged by the outwardly-bent spoke 1S both of the timewhecls will be simultaneously operated. The hour-wheel is actuated one tooth each time the minute-wheel makes one complete revolution, and the hour-wheel, which is providmfl with twelve spokes or arms, makes one rc\'o lution every twelve hours.

The oscillating` trame Si, which carries the stamps 28, substantially Vshaped, consisting el a pair el arms which are connected with a horizontal shalt 52 and which carries a substantially triangular shitting device 52E. The triangular shifting device :je has its apex, arranged at Vits top and is provided at opposite ends of its base with shoulders -lf, adapted to be engaged alternately by an oscillating `linger 55, which is carried by a lever 5U. The lever 5G is fulcruined at its outer end on a suitable support of the lrame itl, and its in ner end is arranged to be engaged by a en rved arm 57, which :forms a cani and `which is mounted on the shali't olf the hour-wheel in order that the oscillating stampez'trrying :iframe will be operated at the end ol' each revolution of the hour-wheel, or once in, every twelve hours.

lllhen the lever 5b' swings dtnvnward, the pivoted linger engages one ol:l theshonlders of the shitting device fl, swinging the latter downward and tilting its apex to one side ol.` the vertical plane el' the shalt 52, and as the linger is pivoted directly above the vertical shaft and as it assumes a perpendicular position when the lever 5G is swung upward it will engage the opposite side ol.' the shifting device the next time it is carried dtnvnward by the lever 5l). The linger is lifted clear-oi' the shitting device and is perl'eetly l'ree to assume a vertical position, and in moving downward it engages the shitting device be low the apex and slides down the inelintafl edge until it engages the adjacent shoulder. By this construction the oscillating' stampcarrying frame is shifted once every twelve hours to change the time of En N. to .l. Il. The lever 5G is arranged ina vertical guide 5S ofthe supy)orting-frame. lfhc rihbon, which is inked similar to a typewriter ribbon, is arranged on vertically-disposed spools 50, journaled `in suitable bearings at opposite sides of the casing, and the ribbon extends rearward at opposite sides of the casing, passing around guides and extending across the casing from one side of the same to the other at a point directly in rear of the stamps. Arecord-sheet G1, of paperor other suitable material, extends upward from the bottom of the top of the supporting-frame and is arranged back of the ribbon, being interposed between the same and a bar G2, which forms a backing for the sheet.

The spools which carry the ribbon are provided at their bottoms with ratchet-wheels 03, which are engaged by actuating devices G4, located at opposite sides of the supportin g-frame and adapted to be alternately used, so that the ribbon can be reversed after it has been unwound from one spool. Each actuating device consists of a wedge-shaped tooth operating between the teeth of the ratchetwheel of the adjacent spool and connected by a rod with the bar 15, and when the latter is drawn downward the wedge-shaped tooth of the ribbon-actuating device is carried beneath the ratchet or gear wheel G3 in position for its inclined edge to engage a tooth of the wheel G3, when the bar 15 moves upward, whereby the spool will be partially rotated. The lower end of each rod G5 is swiveled to the bar 15 by means of a plate 15, which is provided with a perforation for the reception of the rod, and the latter is provided witha stop to prevent it from being withdrawn from the perforation. By swiveling the rod 65 to the bar 15 it is adapted to be partially rotated to turn the wedge-shaped tooth out of engagement with the adjacent ratchet or gear wheel 63, so that one actuating device may be thrown out of operation while the other is being used. The rod 05 is provided at a point intermediate of its ends with a .flange 64a, arranged to reciprocate in a guide G4, mounted on the adjacent portion of the casing and provided with openings arranged at right angles to each other. One of the openings of the guide Gill is disposed longitudinally of the casing, and the other is arranged transversely of the casing. One receives the flange when the tooth is in posi-A tion for engaging the wheel of the ribbonspool, and the flange is arranged in the upper opening or way of the guide by forcing it downward into the same and rotating the tooth 64.

The record-sheet G1 is unreeled from a lower roll 6G and is wound around an upper shaft or roll 67, which is connected with and actuated by the bar 15. The upper roll 67 carries a ratchet-wheel G8, located at one side of the supporting-frame and engaged by an actuating-pawl 69, which is carried by an oscillating lever 70. The oscillating lever 7 O is fulcrumed at its rear end on the supportingframe, and its front end is connected by a rod 71 with the horizontal bar 15, and when the latter moves upward the pawl 69 engages the ratchet-wheel GS and actuates the roll 67 to advance the record-sheet and carry a fresh portion thereof opposite the stamps. The ratchet-wheel GS is engaged by a check-pawl GS to prevent it from be'ing rotated backward by the downward movement of the lever 70.

The lower roll GG is engaged by a spring 7 3, which operates as a brake, and which prevents the record-sheet from being unreeled too rapidly.

In order to assist the upward movement of the bar 15, a curved spring 72 is employed. The spring is centrally secured to the supporting-frame at the bottom thereof, and its ends are curved upward and engage the ends of the bar 15, and the weight of the sliding cover and the outer portion of the operatinglever also assists the upward movement of the bar 15. The door 13 of the letter box or compartment is connected with a verticallymovable rod 74, which is drawn downward when the door is opened and moved upward when the dooris closed. The upper portion 75 of the rod 7 e is inclined in the direction of the adjacent side of the supporting-frame and is guided in a way 7 G, and the inclined portion of the rod 7 at passes through a perforation of a reciprocating indicator 77, slidingl y mounted on the bar 22 and arranged in suitable guides. The upper end of the rod 74- is provided with a cross-head which operates in suitable grooves of the way 7 (5 to prevent the upper end of the rod from becoming disengaged therefrom.

The reciprocating indicator, which carries a pencil 7 8, has an angularly-bent portion 79, arranged between guides 80, whereby, when the reciprocating indicator is drawn outward by the opening of the door 13, the pencil will be carried rearward into engagement with the record-sheet and will be drawn across the same a short distance beneath the record of the last operation of the sliding cover of the letter box or receptacle, thereby indicating approximately, the time of the collection Then the door is closed, the reciprocating indicator is moved backward, and the pencil is carried out of engagement with the recordsheet.

The upper portion of the casing is det-achably secured to the lower portion by means of any suitable fastening device, and it is provided at its front with an upper transparent portion to enable the record-sheet to be readily examined, and a suitable openin g is provided opposite the clock mechanism to permit the introduction of a key for winding the same.

It will be seen that the mechanism for recording the time the letters are deposited in the box or receptacle is positive and reliable in operation, that each time the operatinglever is raised to open the sliding cover 6 the time of such operation will be accurately printed on the record-sheet, and that each time a collection is made the pencil or other marking device employed will draw a line IOO IXO

under the time-record oi the letter last deposited, thereby approximately indicating the time oi the collection.

It will also be apparent that it a box be neglected by a letter-carrier the length ot time letters are allowed to remain in the box. `will be accurately indicated and can be readily ascertained at a glance, as the oscillating stamp carrier or f rame will be operated every twelve hours to bring the parts in position to shift the stamps.

Changesin thelform, proportion, and minor details ot construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrilieing any of the advantages ot this invention.

that I claim is l.. ln a device of the class described, the combination ot a casing provided with a letterbox and having an entrance-opening, a movable cover arranged at the entranceopening, a permanent record-sheet, movable stamps arranged to engage the record-sheet mechanism for actuating the stamps, and connections between the stamps and the movable cover and the latter and the recoidslieet, whereby the stamps will be operated and the record-sheet advanced to bring a fresh portion opposite the stamps, when the cover is opened, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. In a device ol` the class described, the combination ot' a casing provided with a letter-box and having an entrance-opening, a movable cover arranged at the en tranec-opening, a record-sheet, movable stamps arranged to engage the record-sheet, mechanism for actuating the stamps, connections between the stamps and the movable cover, whereby the former will be operated when the latter is opened, a door for the letter-box, and an indicating device connected with the door, operated by the saine and provided with a marking device arranged to engage the record-sheet when the door is opened, substantially as and tor the purpose described.

23. In a device ol.' the class described, the combination oi a easing having a letter-box provided with an opening, ways arranged at the opening, asliding cover mounted in. the ways, an operating-lever lulcruined on the easing at one end et the cover, a connectingrod extending from the lever to the cover, a guide or keeper receiving the conneetiilg-rod, and recordilig mechanism connected with the lever, whereby the latter will be operated when the cover is opened, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In a device of the class described, the combination ot a casing hz'rving a letter-box and provided with a door, a reciprocating indicator provided with a marking device, and a rod capable ot upward and downward movement connected with the door and having an inclined portion slidingly connected with the indicator, whereby the latter will be reciprocated when the rod is moved upward and downward, substantially as described.

In a device el the class described, the combination of a easing, a horizonta`lly-dis posed reciprocating indicator provided wilh an angularlyfdisposed portion arranged in suitable guides and adapted to shift the indicator laterally when the same is moved longitudinally, a marking device carried by the reciprocating imlica'lbr, and a rod capa ble et upward and downward movement and provided with an inclined portion slidingly connected with the reciprocating indicator, substantially as and l`or Vthe purpose dcscribed.

(5. In a device ot the class described, the combination ot a casing provided with a let-- ter-box having' an entrance-opening, a mov able cover arranged over the opening, a reciprocating stamping-trame, movable stamps located adjacent to the stamping-l'rame, clock: mechanism connected with and operating the stamps, and coiinections between the movable cover and the stamping-lramc, whereby the latter is reciprocated, substantiallyv as described.

7. Ain a device ol the class described, the combination ot a casing having a letter-bong a movable cover,an operati nglever connected with and adapted to open the cover, a horizontally -disposed Vrcciijn'ecating stampingirame, movable stamps, clocli .mechanism l'or actuatin the stamps, and a vortieallydnov ablewedge connectedwiththe operatingdever andarranged to engage and actuatc thestampingtrame, substzfintially as and lor the por pose described.

8. in a device olf the class described, the combination olf a casing having a letteribox and provided with a movable cover, an operating-lever connected with and adapted to open the movable cover, a reei] n'ocaling stampiiig-trame, movable stamps arranged to be engaged by the stampiiig-trame, a wedge connected with the inierating-lever and arranged te engage the stamping-iframe, and springs l'or returning the stamping-trame to its initial position, snbstai'itially as described.

il. lfn a device el the class described, the combination et minute and hour wheels capable eli' rotation and provided with a series oi' stamps, a recordsheet arranged to be engaged by the stamps, a stamping-tranie arraimed to engage a stamp of each wheel. and carry the same against; the record-sheet, eloclc mecha ism connected with and aiflapted to aciuale the said wheels, and operating mechanism connected with and actuating the stampingi'rame, substantially as described.

li). ln a device ot` the class described, the combination ol a supporti ng-lrame, hour and minute wheels having their l'aees arranged inv the same plane and provided with spokes, stamps mounted on the spokes and arranged on the faces of vthe wheels, a record-sheet arranged adjacent to the faces ot the wheels in IIO position to be engaged by the stamps, an inkcarrying ribbon interposed between the record-sheet and the stamps, and a movable stamping-frame arranged to engage a stamp of each of the wheels to cause the same to engage the ribbon and the record-sheet, substantially as described.

11. In a device of the class described, the combination of a supporting-frame, hour and minute wheels carrying stamps and provided with ratchet-wheels, oscillating levers, actuating-pawls connected with t-he levers and engaging the ratchet-wheels, a horizontal rod pivotally connected with one of the oscillating levers, passing through a perforation of the other lever and provided with a head, an actuating-wheel having a series of spokes arranged to engage the lever adjacent tothe head of the rod, one of the spokes being oitset from the plane of the other spokes and being arranged to en gage the head of the rod, whereby both levers will be operated, substantially as described.

12. In a device of the class described, the combination of vertically-disposed hour and minute wheels carrying stamps, the substantially vertically-disposed oscillating levers 37 and 3S connected with and adapted to actuate the said wheels, a connecting-rod pivoted at one end to the lever 3S and passing through a perforation o't' the lever 37, an actuatingwheel having a series of arms or spokes arranged to engage the lever 37, one of the spokes being bent out of the plane of the other spokes and arranged to engage the adjacent end of the connecting-bar, whereby both levers will be oscillated, substantially as described.

13. In a device of the class described, the combination of a supporting-frame, the vertically-disposed hour and minute Wheels pro` vided with stamps, clock mechanism for operating the wheels, an inkcarrying ribbon arranged adjacent to the wheels and mounted on spools, a horizontally-disposed stampingframe arranged to engage a stamp of each of the wheels, a vertically-movable horizontal bar, a vertically-movable wedge connected with the horizontal bar and arranged to en gage the stamping-frame and adapted to actuate the same when the horizontal bar is drawn downward, and an actuating device connected with the horizontal bar, operated by the same and adapted to rotate the spools, substantially as described.

let. ln a device of the class described, the combination of a vertically-disposed spool provided with a toothed wheel, and a verti cally-movable wedge-shaped tooth arranged to engage the teeth of the wheel, whereby the spool is rotated, substantially as described.

15. In a device of the class described, the combination of a supporting-frame, vertically-disposed spools located at opposite sides thereof and provided with toothed wheels, an ink-carrying ribbon extending across the frame and having its ends arranged on the spools, a horizontal bar extending across the frame and capable of upward and downward movement, rods extending upward from the ends of the bar, and wedge-shaped teeth carried by the rods and arranged to engage the teeth of the spools, said wedged-shaped teeth being swiveled to the rods and adapted to be turned ont of engagement with the toothed wheels to permit the ribbon to be reversed, substantially as and for the purpose described.

16. In a device of the class described, the combination of a letter-box having an opening, a permanent record-sheet mounted Within the letter-box, time-controlled stamps, a movable cover arranged over the letter-box and opening and connected with and adapted to operate the stamps, whereby the time of deposit of a letter will be recorded, and connections between the record-sheet and the 1novable cover, adapted to advance the said sheet tobrin g fresh portions of the same opposite the stamps, substantially as described.

17. In a device of the class described, the combination of a casing having a letter-box and provided with a movable cover, a horizontal bar capable of vertical movement, an operating-lever connected with the cover and with the horizontal bar, stamp carrying wheels, clock mechanism for operating the wheels, vertically-disposed spools provided with toothed wheels, a ribbon arranged on the spools and extending across the casing in position to be engaged by the stamps, a stamping-frame adapted to engage a stamp of each of the wheels, a wedge engaging the stamping-frame and connected with the horizontal bar, vertically-movable rods provided with actuating devices engaging the toothed wheels of the spools, a substantially vertically-disposed record-sheet, upper and lower rolls carrying the record-sheet, and an actuating device for rotating the upper roll, and a rod connecting` such actuating device with the horizontal bar, substantially as described.

1S. In a device of the class described, the combination ot an oscillating stamp-carrier having a pair of arms, a substantially triangular shitting device connected with the os-v cillating stamp-carrier and provided at opposities sides with shoulders, a lever located above the shifting device, a pivoted inger depending from the lever and arranged to engage thc shitting device, and means for operating the lever, substantially as described.

19. ln a device ot' the class described, the combination of an hour-wheel provided with stamps, a cam-shaped arm connected with the hour-wheel, an oscillating stai'np-carrier provided with a pair of arms, a triangular shifting device provided at opposite sides with shoulders a lever fulcrumed at one end and having its other end arranged to be engaged by the camshaped arm, and a pivoted linger depending from the lever and arranged to engage the shifting device, substantially as described.

20. ln a device of the class described, the

IOO

coliibiimtion of il, minute-heel provided oli its face with stamps, :tu hour-dieci carrying similnriy-arrmiged stamps, operating mechanism for actuating the wheels and for rotating the hour-Wheel one point :tt each compiete revolution of the minute-wheel, mi 0S- eiihiftiiig stamp-carrier provided with :t pair of arms arrzuiged to swing back and forth sind earrying two stumps, and connections between the oscillating stamp-carrier mid the hour-wheei, whereby the former will be shifted at the end of each complete revolution of the latter, substantially as described.

2i. In it device of the @hiss described, the combination oi' :t supporting-frame, vertically-disposed spools located at opposite Sides thereof :md provided with toothed Wheels, mi

Uli 

